Russian and Israeli Dual Citizen Woman Captured in Iraq

Elizaveta Tsurkov, a citizen of Israel who also holds Russian citizenship, was abducted in Iraq several months ago and has not been released, according to a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. The Jerusalem Post reports that the government believes Tsurkov was captured by Shiite Hezbollah militants in Iraq back in March 2023.

Diplomatic sources have assured that Israeli authorities are doing everything possible to secure her release and return her to Israel, employing all available means and remaining in contact with her family.

Netanyahu's office has stated that the Iraqi authorities bear responsibility for the abduction concerning Tsurkov's life and security. According to Israeli officials, she is alive and is managing as well as the circumstances allow. The newspaper's interlocutors did not provide details on what is being done to secure her release.

Tsurkov entered Iraq on a Russian passport to gather materials for her doctoral thesis, which she is writing at Princeton University, an Israeli senior diplomat told the Jerusalem Post. He noted that it is possible she may have also traveled to Lebanon and Syria. He reminded that Israeli citizens are legally prohibited from visiting hostile countries, even with a passport from a third country.